Getting the Gift You Want

Christmas is my favourite time of the year. I absolutely love the season. As soon as I see the first Christmas display in a shop I am in the Christmas spirit. I have been told I am unbearable.

I know it is a cliché to say I enjoy buying for other people, but I really do. I love coming up with an idea, making sure it is perfect and hunting down that idea. Usually changing it more than once when I realise I have been a bit ambitious and I cannot afford to buy my boyfriend a new set of custom fit golf clubs for Christmas – and then finally settling on the perfect gift.

The issue I have this time of year is that other people don’t share this passion with me. I know you’re not supposed to give to receive but it’s always nice getting a present you truly wanted and not something that has been picked up at the petrol station on the way home from work on Christmas Eve (Joey and Chandler in Friends comes to mind now!).

When you’re a kid it’s really easy. You scribble a letter in crayon, put it in an envelope marked for the North Pole and your mum puts it in the post box on her way to work. When you are grown up it’s a bit more difficult.

Some gifters welcome a suggestion. If you are really lucky your boyfriend/partner will ask you what you want for Christmas. This is the perfect time for you to produce your laptop with the bookmarked page pointing straight at the leather jacket you have been eyeing up all year.

But then on the other hand, some people take insult in the fact that they are not given the opportunity to come up with a Christmas present idea, even though the stress of thinking of something is making them intolerable. This is a lose-lose situation.

In a situation like this, the only thing to do is start dropping ‘subtle’ hints.

This year I really want a new pair of Ugg Boots I have seen on the ASOS website and here is how I am going to get them.

Step One

I like to go to my closet and amidst sighs, explain, “I wish I could wear that skirt but I just don’t have the pair of boots to go with it” *Sigh*, take out an old pair of jeans and close my closet again.

Step Two

Window shopping online is one of my favourite past times. I love to look at things I would buy if I had all the money in the world. If your partner can see your screen he will feel compelled to ask “what are you doing?”, to which you can explain, “Just looking at some stuff I like”.

Step Three

If you have a friend that’s just got a really nice new pair of boots or shoes, compliment her and ask her where she got them, make a big fuss of her, but only if you do like her new purchase, there is no need to be fake. It always helps to add in “I’ve been looking at a new pair of boots online I just haven’t got around to buying them yet”.

Step Four

Use a friend to get some inside knowledge. It’s always good to get an idea as to whether he has picked up on your hints. If you have a friend who is capable of being subtle, get him or her to find out if your significant other has decided on a present for you. It will give you an idea as to whether you need to step up your game or if you can relax and enjoy the Christmas cheer.

Step Five

Ask him what he really wants for Christmas. Every year I ask my Boyfriend what he wants for Christmas and every year he says “oh nothing”. This I know is a lie. And at this point I usually have a really great idea; I just have to make sure I’m not missing anything obvious. This usually prompts him to ask me what I want which is where I can say “I have been looking at a really nice pair of Ugg boots online that I was going to buy, so if you want to get me them, I can’t really think of anything else I need right now”.

So that is it. I hope it helps you get the gift you want this Christmas!